Daryll Cullinan extended his South African record for test centuries to 14 as South Africa closed on 244-5 at stumps on day one of the third Test against the West Indies at the Kensington Oval on Thursday.

Cullinan finished unbeaten on 108, while nightwatchman Nicky Boje (3 not out) had done his job too.

After a topsy-turvy day, which started and ended with the West Indies on the attack but featured a 149-run stand between Cullinan and Neil McKenzie (72) in the middle, neither side could genuinely claim to hold the upper hand going into the second day. Significantly, however, Cullinan is still there for the tourists and how long he lasts on Friday could well determine whether the South Africans push on past 300.

Cullinan's hundred was chanceless, coming off 189 balls in a little under four hours and including 11 boundaries.

His stand with McKenzie helped haul South Africa out of a potentially disastrous situation. When the pair came together shortly before lunch at the fall of Jacques Kallis for a dogged 11, the tourists were 58-3 and very much on the wrong end of a serious working over from the West Indies pace attack.

Courtney Walsh got the ball rolling in fine style with a fearsome first over, greeting Gary Kirsten with a rocket of a bouncer, and then getting one to spit off a length two balls later to take the splice of the left-hander's bat and loop to Chris Gayle at third slip. South Africa 0-1, and the Kensington Oval crowd already making themselves heard.

Although Herschelle Gibbs and Kallis steadied things with a stand of 53 for the second wicket, the runs were coming slowly and neither batsmen ever looked totally set on a pitch that was providing significantly more bounce than those in Guyana and Trinidad. Sure enough, both perished in the final 20 minutes before lunch.

First Gibbs drove loosely at Mervyn Dillon to be snapped up at second slip by the captain for 34 and then two Dillon overs later Kallis got the faintest of edges through to Ridley Jacobs at the wicket. Umpire Steve Bucknor gave Kallis the option of walking, then eventually raised the finger to help him on his way. South Africa 70-3 at lunch and under the cosh.

What followed was a complete reversal of fortune. Cullinan and McKenzie batted right through the second session, taking their partnership to 110 by tea. Both batsmen took the attack to the West Indies bowling, McKenzie belying his reputation as a nervous player of spin by twice using his feet to drive Dinanath Ramnarine through extra-cover for four and Cullinan reaching his 50 with a peach of a late cut off the impressive Cameron Cuffy past second slip for four.

After offering a sharp but takeable chance to Wavell Hinds at short-extra cover on 43, McKenzie eventually fell in the softest of manners, as part-timer Hinds again proved a trump card for his captain with the ball.

McKenzie had just pulled Dillon for the sweetest of sixes over mid-wicket, only to then try and play the same shot off Hinds and smash it straight to Dillon. McKenzie's 72 came off 158 balls and included the six and nine fours.

Cuffy made sure the new ball was not wasted with the wicket of Boucher for just three, the wicket-keeper looking to force the ball away through the off-side and edging to Jacobs.

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